Winthrop Fashion Club Takes a Stand for Denim Day This Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Content Warning This story mentions themes of sexual violence that may be disturbing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Written By Megah Miglorie
Photos By Weston Hook
Arts & Culture
Winthrop Fashion Club (@winthropfashionclub)
Winthrop Fashion Club brought the heat with their Denim Day fashion show on April 9th, 2026. The show allows students to show off their fashion sense and create a form of art. More importantly, the show acknowledges Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and encourages students to speak out against the excuse commonly used that clothing justifies any form of violence.
The fashion show was held in McBryde Hall, filled with people watching the show, from the runway to the walls. Several Winthrop affiliated groups sponsored the event, such as Affinity health care, Winthrop health services and Winthrop police department. Kevin Sheppard was present at the event, Winthrop’s Title IX Coordinator, to talk about titles guidelines and how students should combat sexual assault.
“[…] Denim Day is a national day where we raise awareness to sexual violence. […] And so with the university decided to do that with a fashion show.” Stated Collins Cornwell, Director of Student Conduct and chair of the RAP (wellness, risk management, and programming) committee.
It’s vital to note that the show is in honor of the 1990s Supreme Court case that ruled a woman was not sexually assaulted because she was wearing tight denim jeans. And so in April, WFC celebrates Denim Day to inevitably raise awareness to sexual violence.
The RMR spoke with Cyber Security major Cheo Chandler to discuss the importance of the Denim Day fashion show.
“It means a lot,” Chandler said. “Because, if anything, people shouldn’t be exploited in that sort of manner at all, or any manner for that. But it happens to a lot more people that you do know than not. So it’s just that it’s unfortunately common. So when it’s wearing, awareness of that is very good.”
Jalen Hayes, a business major with a double concentration in human resources and marketing, spoke about what the event means to him and the university as a whole.
“This event just means to me about how clothes are not an invitation, how the things that you wear are not an invitation to do whatever you want to do, and just fighting back against the stigma that surrounds clothing, and you know how it relates to consent,” Hayes said.
The show began with confident dancers. Statistics and news briefings played over the speakers while the models walked. Their energy filled the crowded spaces of McBryde.
Afterward, the models started their catwalk. The room erupted with cheering while the models hyped up one another. After the first half of the walk, all the models walked out together. Then they had two prizes for people who would be willing to walk. One prize for best dressed and the kosher for best week.
This event isn’t just about statement pieces and high quality photography, it’s about recognizing that one’s choice in clothing is not a reason to strip one of their sense of identity. This show has won awards in the past, notably winning first place in the National Association of Student Affairs.
However, this iteration demonstrated something quite remarkable by allowing the student body of Winthrop to come together to stand up against sexual assault, and work towards putting an end to the stigma that different types of clothing are an invitation to violence.